NATO chief: Immediate international reaction to use of chemical weapons

DEBKAfileDecember 4, 2012, 5:28 PM (IDT)

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nato’s secretary general, warned Syria that the international community would not stand by if Bashar al-Assad unleashes chemical warfare against the Syrian people. “I would expect an immediate reaction,” he said. "Syrian stockpiles of chemical weapons are a matter of great concern. We know that Syria possesses missiles. We know they have chemical weapons and this is also the reason why it is necessary to ensure effective defense and protection of our ally Turkey," the Nato secretary-general said at a NATO meeting Tuesday, called to approve the deployment of Patriot missile batteries along the Turkish-Syrian border.